Scamfluencers

5,010

Society & Culture #32, All Genres #234

You never really know someone…especially online. In today’s world, the power of influence can be the quickest path to money and fame, and it often ends in ruin. These are the stories of the world’s most insidious Scamfluencers. And we are their prey. On Wondery’s new weekly series, join co-hosts Scaachi Koul and Sarah Hagi as they unpack epic stories of deception from the worlds of social media, fashion, finance, health, and wellness. These influencers claim to be everything from charismatic healers to trusted financial insiders to experts in dating. They cast spells over millions. Why do we believe them, and how does our culture allow them to thrive? From Black Swan Murder to a fake social media influencer to an audacious Hollywood Ponzi schemer, each season will take the listener along the twists and turns, the impact on victims, and what’s left when the facade falls away.

Need more Scamfluencers? With Wondery+, enjoy exclusive episodes, early access to new ones, and they’re always ad-free. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/scamfluencers/ now.

Recent Episodes

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Recent Reviews

Girlbrain101

Love Show, Hate Paid Episodes

The show itself is great. It’s frustrating in times when finances are uncertain for many podcast listeners to be hit with a paywall for older episodes. Feels money-grubbing.
laura840

I have a story tip

Please dig into the crazy story about Maxwell. It’s a Brooklyn ad agency. And it’s bonkers.
Karen non-meme-adjacent

Well researched and enjoyable

I don’t get people who expect entertainment to be free. I mean who wants to do their work for nothing? Wondery has so many good podcasts and how I found this one. I wasn’t sure I’d like this but I do, a lot, just the right amount of detail.
Wrscomputers

Amazing!!!

I’ll listen to the first couple of recent episodes and absolutely love the show. I had to go back and start all the shows from the beginning now I’m about 20 shows in and still loving it. This is definitely a must listen for anybody who likes true crime with an actual conclusion.
RoseALots

Jack Abramoff part 2

Where’s part 2 of Abramoff? It’s part 1 played over again. Otherwise, Ive been binging this show since I found it; I love this show.
1234ninga1234

Great overall

I love this show. The hosts are funny, the story telling is good, they’re from Canada so it’s amusing sometimes to hear the things they don’t understand about the US and the scams they talk about are pretty insane.
DWBrownie

The Best

I've been listening for years and there hasn't been an episode that disappoints. I've recommend it to EVERYONE! The love the hosts.
Turtle Mom 021409

Great Name, Horrible Hosts

I’m so mad that these two girls have this podcast name. They are silly, can’t get to the point and talk about inane topics in the middle of the case story. They are wildly unprofessional. And not funny, at all. But great podcast name. If you are looking for a truly worthwhile podcast, try True Crime Obsessed. They have the perfect mix of story and discussion. I haven’t found one top it yet.
Stu Vwxyz

Fact check

I just listened halfway through an episode and I was incensed by the ignorant opinions, not backed with any research, that colors the narrative of the show. Just sloppy and irresponsible. Too bad.
YourboyBruno212

Scamming while talking about scamming is cray work

Podcast is pretty entertaining until you realize part 2 episodes are for only for wondery plus subscribers…..
Funnnney

Restore old episodes

This podcast is great but the listener shouldn’t have to pay $5.99 in order to hear old episodes.
Kaylie1987

Disappointed

New to this podcast and I started from the beginning and was working my way up to the most recent. I was half way done with an episode last night and today it is now only available to paid subscribers. It looks like many of the “part 2” episodes are unavailable. Pretty disappointed.
dplysenko

Money Grab

Putting follow on episodes only under “Wonder +” paid subscription means I’ll never listen to your show again. Plenty of other interesting podcasts.
tonkafoxy

What happened

Was really enjoying this podcast then overnight they went to a paywall to finish their stories. To bad it was great now it seems they can do one on themselves
tommthom

Scaachi sighting

I was listening to the new Italian job episode and saw a commercial for Hollywood Demons on my laptop. So I paused the podcast to watch the first episode and guess who I saw…. Scaachi!!! Lol #Scaaception
Presley's mama

Love this show … but

Please know the new Apr 7 episode is the same as the previous week. It has a new title but the content is the old story. So I didn’t get my Mon morning fix. Please post the correct episode!
SantaClausRetired

Love the show but check the latest episode upload

Fantastic show, look forward to it every week. Heads up though, looks like the early release for subscribers of the Lee Israel episode is just a duplicate upload of the episode the week prior on Giancarlo….looking forward to the actual new episode, hopefully this gets fixed soon :)
RL...EN

Excellent!!

Super interesting stories and no too many breaks for ads. The Frederic Bourdain episode was jaw dropping and chilling. WILD wild stuff!!!
Jason Hendrix

Interesting

Great story other than the host trying to make up excuses for her wrong doings. There’s always a right way to do things.
Moky in AZ

I truly enjoy it

Funny, entertaining and I always learn new stuff from 2 hosts who sound like me and my bestie chatting away!
goodstuffalways

Which laws do Saachi and Sarah want to enforce

I listened to the episode with Ms Barbosa from Brazil who broke the law in several different ways. These knucklehead females were praising Ms Barbosa for her intellect in being able to scam companies their customers and the US Government. Per these two women Ms Barbosa committed crimes that were victimless and were proud of her for taking advantage of the systems within our despicable “capitalist society”. These two are feminists and communists for sure.
Snatchy Lopez

Hahaha

This sht’s pretty good, hosts are funny, got me laughin a lot. Good stories too. Seems like the shows got haters though from the comments. Not sure why, I saw a person said racist. That’s goofy, this stuff ain’t even racist. It’s all just sht talkin, relax.
Robti

Well-researched and presented with expertise!

We discovered this podcast only a couple of weeks ago, and it has quickly become our second favorite, after Casefile. Keep up the great work, ladies! Susan & Robert
Amy6374

Immature Narratives

Way too much giggling Enough said
SmkellerR

Smart women

I love that these women are writers and so smart. It’s refreshing to listen to women who have a command of the English language, (I’m not talking about speaking) and are clearly intelligent, understand diversity and are friends who make each other laugh! Thanks ladies!
Jian191

Hosts are overbearing

Lots of put downs against men and just generalizing to an entire gender. Always praises the women in the story. Overbearing with how often this occurs and how out of place it can be. Otherwise the show is enjoyable
kshroo

Glad I Didn’t Miss This

Because you ladies are SO FABULOUS, I was going back through to make sure I didn’t miss any unplayed episodes and I am so glad that I didn’t miss this recap and dish on reviews. I have considered naming my daughter Scaachi because of this podcast. She, however, at 16, would prefer to keep her current one though 🙄🤣 and f white men coming from a white woman in the Deep South.
Moxiedot

Hateful

And racist
Cinnamon20_99

Love this podcast!

I love this podcast! And the fact that it pisses off small d**k men and racist white people makes it even better! Keep up the great work ladies ❤️
Jjjenjenifer

Brilliant and fascinating

Sarah and Scaachi are so smart and such great storytellers. I just found the show and am powering through every episode.
frquis

Rough

Hosts are brutal
daplm61

Done

Can’t enjoy the actual topic because of the hosts ignorant, judgmental, RACIST comments. They openly hate white people and men. They sound like pampered, babied brats. Will never listen again and will spread the word.
FJB Patriot

Really disappointing

They share unsubstantiated opinions about politicians and criticize white people and especially men. I guess it’s their podcast so they can say what they want but it’s just not tasteful. Would like to just hear about scams and not so many personal opinions. Oh well. 🤦🏾‍♀️ Update, I made the unfortunate mistake of getting this podcast. One more try. It’s gross, they shame people of wealth, constantly tear down white women and menand trash the country they profit from. Their hatred towards people who have established wealth and white people seems very clear.
slimkimmc

Priscilla Barbosa

You are dead *ss wrong on your assessment of the damage she caused. Her actions endangered the customers safety. All those riders literally got in a car with a complete stranger. Young riders, older adults like me and the like. She was no Robin Hood but a criminal. And what’s with you two complaining that there should be legitimate work options for people that have not earned that option. She thumbed her nose at the law.
Eric Dicap

Mixed

Love the stories, covered well - clear feminist bias - the female scammers are always given a pass!
Woohoo..U2?

Check out Lee Chatfield

I love the his show so much! You should check out former Michigan Speaker of State the House currently in the news and court.. Another naughty legislator who will no longer get by on his good looks. What do you mean I can’t charge strippers to my expense account? lol You guys are the best!!
majicomac

The real scam is America????

Wow, just wow!!! Bye-bye Scamfluencers. What a bunch of entitled hosts. I too had to seek residency in another country, but I did everything according to the law. It’s NOT OK to break the law, endanger people’s lives, and steal identities because you sneak into a country illegally. I have no idea what you were thinking when you did the conclusion of this podcast. It’s shameful.
notafananymore2021

Lisping queen

The lisping is INSANE.
123ppmd

And I am a woman

These ladies always give the girl scammers a pass it is annoying
SeeReneeBe

Love/hate relationship

I love the scam topic and your banter is always so fun and quippy, but your super casual approach to the “Rideshare Robinhood” scares me. There is an element of mutual “trust and verify” that is necessary for rideshares to safely fill a need in society. Purposely dodging background checks is reckless. It is not a victimless crime if someone gets in the car of a repeat DUI offender or is sexually assaulted by their Uber driver. I hate the excuses for what could be a set up for a tragic outcome for an innocent person.
J Cardenas Kellogg

Ummm

Loved you guys until you called America the scam. SMH
Bzn8735

It’s ok to scam if you’re an illegal immigrant!

The latest episode was the last straw for me in this podcast which has gotten progressively more racist and sexist to the point that now they seem to be scam-sympathizers as long as the subjects arent white. The Priscilla Barbosa episode was a PRO SCAMMER how-to manual for illegal immigrants: “scamming is their only way to make money” ???? Absolutely absurd.
jraely

dinner ep

love this pod and honestly ur guys’ quips are the best… but fr the advice at the end of this ep is literally the only health adv anyone needs to hear. so many times you guys just say stuff that is like on my mind but you give it the words a+ love it all.
chandelierdawg

Excellent Listen

Love both of these writers from the good ol bird app days and their writing across the internet. Finally tuned in and immediately spent hours a day in the back catalog. Their banter is great, the writers on the show do a great job condensing the stories, and it’s just light enough (even when the crimes are horrible) that I can listen during my daily activities.
Loldepapas

It’s good but

Why are they so sexist?
Katkeen

Such great podcasters

Stories r good too but the podcasters r the draw. Can u pls do the Michael Cochran of west Va murder? 20/20 did a show but we have more questions and I know you’ll do the deep dive into the wife’s scamming business that we need
mbtcf

Sarah Haggi

You are a hypocrite. You say bigoted things on this podcast and X literally ALL THE TIME, yet because you view yourself as a victim, think those comments are warranted. Yet when the exact same comments are said about Islam, suddenly you’re Ms. PC. You are not a victim, you’re a hypocritical, entitled, bigot who has contempt for anyone who’s a not a Muslim POC. You ruined a good show.
Lauren_95

My EVERYDAY podcast

I am a longtime crime podcast fan and this one is by far my favorite! The hosts have incredible and hilarious chemistry as friends and make each story so engaging. I listen in the car, at the gym, everywhere!
Milkweed Spoon

Wonderful Comaraderie

I love listening to your podcasts not as much for the subject matter as for your humorous and clever banter —you two are delightful to listen to! I so appreciate your authentic wit!
Hdjdjdbsjejdjrjrjdbbfjdbdks

Love love love

I love this podcast and the ladies! I love how to quality of audio is good in the earlier episodes snd the way they present things keeps me entertained! Can’t wait to make it through all the episodes and listen to them all over again.